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Q: Can crossword puzzles help prevent dementia?
A: Possibly, early research is positive but the jury is still out.
Published 05/03/2008
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Have your say
What do you do to keep your brain active? Have your say on the messageboard below.
Conditions of Use
Growing old is one of life's few certainties. While the idea of playing the grumpy oldie may appeal to many of us – we all want to be sharp enough to enjoy the trouble we make.
But, as we know, when we age our body deteriorates and our chances of developing dementia increase. This brings us to bridge and crossword puzzles, can these – and other mental exercises – keep us in good mental condition and help offset dementia?
When it comes to the brain it could very well be a case of 'use it or lose it', says Henry Brodaty professor of psychogeriatrics at the University of New South Wales. The more we use the brain – by doing activities such as crosswords, sudoku, playing bridge or learning a language – the stronger the neural connections in the brain are likely to become.
Studies have found people who are more active mentally (and they mean active, not just passively watching TV) are less likely to develop dementia in their later years.
But before you head to the nearest newsagent or bridge club, researchers don't know if it's the brain exercises protecting people from dementia, or whether those who are already in the early stages of the condition avoid these activities.
Regardless of the research both Brodaty and Alzheimer's Australia recommend crosswords, playing cards and other brain exercises if you want to stay mentally sharp.
Henry Brodaty is the professor of psychogeriatrics at the University of New South Wales. He was interviewed by Claudine Ryan
Henry Brodaty is the professor of psychogeriatrics at the University of New South Wales.
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Comments (29)
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Noeline :
07 Sep 2008 10:48:56pm
My mother did crossword puzzles her whole life, including the early stages of her alzeimers. She walked and was never sedentary! She could read a novel in a night and was what I would consider physically and mentally active. She is sadly now in a care facility living the horrible later stages of alzeimers. Sometimes its just the (bad) luck of the draw. My mum did have a fairly traumatic childhood that was never addressed. Perhaps emotionally cleansing these things could be the key?
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Desmond Charles :
05 Jun 2008 3:42:36pm
keeping your mind active in a variety of arears. being physical active, and not overtaxing your mind by changing from a mental activity to a physical one rests the nervous system in the brain.
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Vivienne :
03 Jun 2008 5:58:12am
I was a mature age student at University. Then I taught High School until I was 68 years. I took on the full time care of two grandchildren. The youngest was two at the time. I don't have much time for crosswords puzzles however, I am revisiting maths we are now in year five maths. They do it differently now. I will be 76 in July.
I don't have time to have dementia. The I ferry the ten year old to varies activies three times a week. -
Claire :
24 Apr 2008 6:26:25pm
I work on subjects which I previously considered my weaknesses. Always maths-shy I am now a compulsive Sudoku fan and I am getting a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel with French which I dreaded at high school. I recommend everyone seek out their nearest U3A (University of the Third Age) which provides incredibly cheap leisure education to over 50's no longer in full-time employment. The only thing more stimulating than joining them as a student, is joining as a volunteer teacher.
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Art :
18 Mar 2008 5:33:02pm
Eh....what was the question??
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Pam - :
14 Mar 2008 8:51:39pm
I enjoy challenging puzzles and the like and have done them almost daily since I retired five years ago. I also enjoy scrapbooking and card making and find learning new techniques another way of challenging my brain.
However, my latest challenge came about when I
(a visua learner) decided to hone up on my auditory skills by listening to audio books as I did chores around the home or crafted. I choose detective and other mysteries so that I must listen carefully so I don't miss any vital clues and this certainly keeps me "on the ball". -
Maria :
13 Mar 2008 6:16:46pm
I too am interested in any connection between previous mental illness and dementia in the elderly. My father suffers from dementia, and continues to demonstrate low level symptoms of OCD. What I also find interesting with Dad is that he can still play cards and do solitaires (but that's long term memory isn't it?). Will keep playing cards with him.
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Tom :
11 Mar 2008 11:50:53am
What happens to your Soul when you have Dementia? And who decides?
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Slartibartfast :
19 May 2008 9:02:46am
First of all you have to show evidence that such a thing exists.
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Joanie :
05 Oct 2008 4:07:58am
Spirit is not dependent on current intellectual capacity. The glow of good-will and godly intent lingers even as tangles interrupt thought processes. There is a higher power of overall, life carma that is present in the body shell until breathing stops and our spirit finds a new body.
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Derek Nelson :
08 Mar 2008 2:05:33pm
I hope Henry is right as I am engaged in a mighty mental struggle! About 12 months ago I bought an electronic chess game. It has 73 levels of difficulty. I started at level 1 and after winning 3 times I moved to level 2. After 12 months I have bogged down at level 6 as I cannot win 3 games in a row. I cannot believe that this little thing with a brain the size of a peanut can beat me so will continue. As I am now 74 at this rate I will cark it before I get to level 73 but at least it should keep the Alzheimers away!
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Heather :
08 Mar 2008 1:17:46pm
I certainly think using the brain in different tasks helps. I am nearly 70 and have been playing bridge for 20 yrs. I took up learning to play piano 4 years ago and enjoying that too. I had no previous musical knowledge.
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edwin :
08 Mar 2008 10:18:02am
Isn't the idea of "exercising" the brain rather silly? It's not a muscle. And doesn't drawing any conclusion from these weak observational data commit a classic fallacy about correlation?
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Brian Charlton :
07 Mar 2008 11:32:00am
Is dementia a defect in the structure of the brain ? Are your 'trains-of-thought at risk? If so has the stress in the structure been too high?
Since your too late if your stress has been too great you need to know your risks and control them before it's too late.
Isn't this the work ethic ?
Know your risks.
Good luck. -
Graham :
07 Mar 2008 8:37:34am
Crosswords and Scrable may be ok if one has ever been able to spell - which I have not. Seduco may be ok too for people who can handle maths - which I cant. So I worked as a tradesman but now with poor sight, industrial deafness, work injuries and arthritic joints the best I can do is work with computers - and Microsoft has kept that a subject for constant challenge!!!!
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Margot Jones :
07 Mar 2008 6:49:06am
This interests me...I still do cross-words..I love words...and I realised I had stopped reading, so make an effort to fit factual reading in each day. I wonder if drinking some alcohol undoes the good that the brain gym things does?
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Jim :
07 Mar 2008 1:34:28am
I do the Times crossword in The Australian every day, read books on science, history, politics, and philosophy, listen to classical music and jazz, contribute to several email lists, read world newspapers and journals online as well as the Oz on paper and some magazines.
I am only 76 but I just don't have time to get dementia.-
Jaydee :
10 Mar 2008 12:40:17pm
My father used to do the Times cryptic crossword every day, as well as considerable amounts of reading - astronomy , physics etc. as well as playing the violin and listening to music. He had spent his life after the war as an engineer. He drank a minimal amount of alcohol - two beers or an occasional whisky at most. Unfortunately he died from Parkinson's disease with dementia at only 74.
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Lutz Barz :
06 Mar 2008 11:51:10pm
reading [my tv blew up], writing, playing the piano, music is an amazing mind wrencher at first, like learning a new `language' which must help synaptic pathways to go for it, walking as I don't own a car, drinking red wine to keep the body cells subtle and painting -when hung over
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Kerry Prasad :
06 Mar 2008 8:53:07pm
Exercise, jogging, tennis, riding a push bike for shopping etc, I find essential for my well breing. I also prepare a Trust Account Balance evey month, do cryptic crossword puzzles, read library books - hope this keeps my memory OK.
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margaret :
06 Mar 2008 8:26:49pm
I find scrabble on line is a very good way to stay on top. Beat many people younger than me. Won't stop me becoming demented, but good exercise for the brain.
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L Baskin :
06 Mar 2008 7:57:10pm
At seventy eight I enjoy brisk walks, writing for publication, and am a volunteer helping with people problems such as dysfunctional famiies,
and the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune."
Music is a hobby also, and reading books about people, places, and history.
I am blessed with good health,take no medication, live simply and grow a few vegies. I believe in keepin mind and body active. -
Bruce Williams :
06 Mar 2008 7:41:46pm
I have for years enjoyed crosswords, now sudoku occupies part of each day. Only 62 yet, but can see the ageing signs. I have felt that my current alertness might have something to do with these puzzles, but might add that interest and motivation to do something challenging, to work for an outcome, to strive to win has a bit to do with it. Accepting the status quo may be bad for your health. A little win with sudoku kicks the day along nicely.
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Ursula Walsh :
06 Mar 2008 7:17:12pm
Dear H. Brodaty,
by Oktober 08 I shall be 70 years young/old? Alway active, always wanting to learn something new I found the electronic highway superb for all info I like to get. Chess and Freecell are my computer games! However, I don't think that all that will prevent the inevitable if dementiaist advancing. In my native youth we called Grandma's condition "sie ist tüddelig geworden"! Close Relatives (not blood related)developed severe dementia and Alzheimer. All of them highly intelligent people. All however had unhappy lifes.
I do believe there is a relationshiop between b eeing happy/unhappy/fullfilled and the sympthomes of dementia.
Your comments welcome.
Regards
Ursula Walsh-
Lizzie Roarty :
07 Mar 2008 5:00:12pm
Hello Ursula, you have written what I fear. I have read that people who have suffered depression through their lives have a higher likelihood of dementia in old age. It makes sense. When life is too hard, we often zone out mentally. If this goes on over years, the zoning out becomes permanent.
It is a scary train of thought for me, having battled with my psyche over the years, and as I now watch my memory play havoc both at work and at home. Just have to live in hope there's no connection....
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Jim Hultman :
06 Mar 2008 5:24:01pm
To keep my mental faculties from degenerating I have the following interests:
1. I work daily cryptograms,word puzzles, and cross-word puzzles.
2. I delve into comparative religions, atheism/agnosticism.
3. I follow developments in cosmology.
4. I follow developments in particle physics.
Hopefully these will keep the brain in good working order.
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